Magnetic tape recorder-reproducer



1953 E. N. DINGLEY, JR 2,656,419

MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDERREPRODUCER Filed Aug. 16, 1951 SUPPLY REEL TA KE-UP REEL 107 0 Ll04 I //0 /os /os PROGRAM A0 POWER sou/v05 AWL/75R SOURCE I we TIM/N6 OSGILLA T0}? F 0F FREQ f SUPPLY REEL TAKE-UP REEL AMPLI'F/ER BALANCED '7' BAND P455 MODULA ran FILTER frm I z2 z5 asZti'fra 52%252 ---0 OF FREQ f PROGRAM g I 26 SOURCE EQUAL/25R PROGRAM run/swam FIG 2 lnvenfor Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNIT ED TAT Es ext- 1 1 2,656,419 MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDERQREPRODUCER Edward N.-Ding ley, .lri Amlington, Va. Application August'16, 1951, ,SerialNo.'242;117'

Another 'objectof myinventi'on is to eliminate the "difference between the average speed of the tape during recording and the average speed of -the tape during reproduction in order that "theprogram will be reproduced in thesame time interval as was required during recording.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the recorder may 'be synchro- .nized 'to a motion-picture camera, and means whereby the reproducer maybe synchronizedto a 'motion- 'picture projector 'whereby the program r recorded during theiphotographing of an action "will'b'e' reproducedin synchronism with the projection of the action.

Other and "further objects of my invention Itionandby referenceto the accompanying drawings "in "which:

"Figure '1 schematically representsthe recordequipment.

Figure 2 schematically represents the repro- 'duc'in'g equipment.

since this invention pertains chiefly tothe transport system for controlling the velocity of the 'tape,I have omitted herefrom any descriptibn of the adjuncts to magnetic "recorders such 'a'slprovision for bias anderasure 'and'other details well known to thoserskilled in theart but which have no bearing on this invention.

"In Figure 1,the essentials of the tapetrans- "p'ort system of magneticrrecorders well known to the art are portrayed by: The supply reel Mil and the take-up reel I112 whichm'ay be'driven by separate servo systems '(not shown) 'to' gp'reserve c'on'stant'tension in thetape H l; theutape I drive motor T03 whichdrives the tape by means of the capstan H14 and the pressure idler 1'05; and the record-head l0! which is energized through the amplifier 19 from the program source H0. "Ihesynchronouscapstan motor 103 will be understood 'fromthe following specifica- "is energized from-a source 106 of A.-C. :power. The portion-of my invention which applies .to "the recordereonsists :of the addition .of the .timing--oscillator 1 08,- the outputof which (having frequency 7) is amplified by amplifier H19 and appliedto the record-head I011 together with :the signalfrom the program source in The major portion 'ofmy invention, as described-hereinafter,'-concerns the utilization of. the timingsigna ls, thus recorded, in reducingmor eliminating flutter and wow in the reproduced1program..

In Fi'gure 2, the :essentialsuof the itape transpertsystem oflthe magnetic reproduceraremortrayed by: "The supply reel J and :the take-up reel-*2 whichare preferably driven by separate servo systems (not shown) torpreserve constant tension in the tape fi; :the tape drive motor 35 "whichdrives the tape by means of the capstan 3 and'the pressure idlerl; and the reproducahead '1- which is mounted in the guide racks 8 and "whioh" is-capable of linear motion parallel to the travel of tape-B under theiinfluence of force exerted by the solenoid In -Ffigure 2, the-drive motor :5 may he :a DJC. motor-*ora series A.-C. motor, the speed of which controlled by thje manuallyLoperated rheo'stat l-1 and by the Wernier rheost'at 1L2- which is pos'itioned by the reversible motor. I53 through. the

"meansot worm and gear-r15. The/motor i3 fi's caused to rotate in a forward :direction by the closure of --sp1 'ing contacts 16 "and J8, sand in a reverse direction by the closure or (spring "contacts 46 and H.

"The mode or operation :of vthe magnetic reproducer equipment is as "follows: During the starting operation, the magnetic tape 6 is ac- 'ce'lerate'd by applying power to the capstanllnotor-5. As thetape fi approaches*normalvelocity, theti'ming-signal which was derived from 'oscill'ator' lllB (Fig. 1) and recorded'on the magnetic "tape; *will be-reproduced *by the reproduce head "1, amplified' bythe amplifier l'ifand passed :by the hand-pass fllter' 2 ll 'when its frequency has increased to within 1% of "frequency whereupon-this-timing signal (hereafter called f") will -bemixe'd'fin t'he balanced modulator 21 with a signal of 'frequen'cy -f-derived from the timing "oscillator 22. 'The resultant -difierence-fre- "quencywhich appears at the output terminals A of "the balanced ;modulator 21, is applied to the "armature 9 "of a solenoid which is provided with a "permanent "magnetic 'field designated as "'N and"'S in Flgure'2. The armature 9 is rigidly connecte'dfto the reproduce head "I by means of the mechanical T linkage '24.

The difference frequency applied to armature 9 causes said armature to start to vibrate, but the direction of motion of said armature during the first (or third) quarter-cycle of its vibratory motion is such as to move the reproduce-head l in a direction opposite to the motion of the tape 6. The resultant increase in the velocity of the tape 6 relative to the velocity of the reproduce-head I is such as to reduce the differencefrequency to nearly zero, or, stated in another Way, such as to produce a phase difierence d between 1" and ,f of some value between 90 (for which value the armature is not energized) and 180 for which value the armature 9 receives maximum value of direct current). The phase difference 4: wil1 tend to increase because, at the moment under consideration, the velocity of tape 6 is less than normal. As the phase difference tends to increase, the direct current in armature 9 also tends to increase, thus moving the reproduce head 1 further in a direction opposite to that of the tape motion and this motion tends to decrease the phase difference The phase difference at any instant will be that phase difference which produces sufficient direct current in armature 9 to hold the reproduce-head l in the proper position displaced from a normal position to which it tends to return through the action of suspension springs not shown.

A rigid mechamcal linkage 26 connects the reproduce head I to contact spring Hi. In consequence, the above described motion of the said reproduce-head causes spring [6 to make contact with spring l8, thus causing motor [3 to revolve in such a direction as to reduce the resistance of rheostat [2, thus causing an increase in the speed of capstan motor and a consequent increase in the velocity of tape 8. The velocity of tape 6 continues to increase thus reducing the phase-difference p, thus reducing the current in armature 9. and thus permitting the reproduce-head l to return progressively toward its normal position through the action of its suspension springs not shown. When the reproduce-head 1 assumes its normal position, spring [6 is disengaged from spring IS, the motor [3 ceases to rotate and the average speed of capstan motor 5 and tape 6 remains approximately constant. Should the average speed of tape 6 be greater than normal, the average position of reproduce-head I will be off normal in the direction of tape motion, contacts [6 and I? will close, and motor l3 will adjust rheostat l2 so as to reduce the average tape speed until contacts 16 and H are opened. Any short term variations, flutter or wow, which tend to appear in the frequency f due to irregularities in the tape velocity either during recording or reproduction, will tend to advance or retard the phase difference in proportion to the instantaneous time-position error of the signal storage medium relative to the reproduce-head I. This immediately results in motion of the reproduce-head 1 in such a direction as to reduce the time-position error and the resulting phase difference to a minimum. In consequence, the variation of phase difierence is held to a minimum. In further consequence, the rate-ofchange (dqb/(Zi) of the phase difference i h l to a minimum. Since d/dt represents the instantaneous frequency difference between f and f, it follows that this frequency difference (flutter or wow) is held to a minimum. Since the frequency f and the various frequencies constituting the program are derived from the same magnetic tape, it follows that the flutter and Wow in the reproduced program is held to a minimum. The reproduced program passes through the band-pass filter 25, which attenuates frequency through the usual equalizer 25 and to the transducer or loudspeaker 21.

The technical literature contains descriptions of types of magnetic media recording-reproducing equipment which utilize the principle of recording a timing signal simultaneously with the recording of the program and which utilize the reproduced timing signal to apply instantaneous speed corrections to the capstan motor of the reproducer in an endeavor to maintain the correct media velocity from instant to instant. Although these types of equipment are capable of maintaining the correct average velocity of the media, they are incapable of reducing materially the short period variations in the instantaneous velocity of the media because of the excessive inertia of the rotor of the capstan motor. My invention not only maintains the correct average velocity of the media but also materially reduces the short period variations (flutter and wow) by providing a reproduce-head having small inertia and having the ability to move automatically parallel to the media in such a manner as to greatly reduce the effect of short period variations in the instantaneous velocity of the magnetic media.

Oscillator IE8 of Figure l and oscillator 22 of Figure 2 may be highly stable oscillators having substantially identical average frequencies and having negligible short term frequency variations. Under these circumstances the maximum variation of the frequency f and the maximum flutter and wow of the program will not exceed the sum of the negligible short term variations of the two oscillators plus the maximum rate of change d/dt of the phase difierence The later rate of change will be proportional to the difference between the time integral of the inadvertent accelerations of the tape, during recording and reproduction, and the time integral of the acceleration of the reproduce head 1 resulting from the force applied by the solenoid 9. Since the acceleration of the reproduce head is proportional to the applied force and inversely proportional to the mass of the head, it follows that the acceleration required to maintain negligibly small values of d/dt can be attained by means of a reasonably small force provided that the mass of the reproduce head is also small. Since is not permitted to vary by more than 1r radians, the time required to reproduce the program will not differ from the time required to record the program by substantially more than 1/2 1 seconds.

The frequency f of oscillator I08 of Figure 1 and of oscillator 22 of Figure 2 may be any desired frequency within the response capability of the equipment. It would be undesirable to select a frequency 1 within the band of frequencies occupied by the program but such a frequency could be accommodated by obvious methods such as by providing additional filters or a separate timing track on the tape.

There is a certain advantage in selecting 60 C. P. S. as the frequency I because it is less than the lowest frequency required for the reproduced program, because the 60 C. P. S. synchronous motor of a motion-picture camera can be energized from oscillator I08 and because the 60 C. P. S. synchronous motor of a motion-picture projector can be energized from the oscillator 22,

assume thus assuringa-notonly a very riow nutter: andwow in the reproduced program butalsoassuring1the maintenance or' 'exact synchronisin between the audio "program and the proi ected: motion-picture action'.'-- It fls possible to achievethe required synchronisnr :by substituting the commerclal 60 C'."P; S mains' for oscillators 1 I08 and-.22 but-in this ease -thelpercentwow'and:fiutterisstill equal tothe :suni -oithe percentshort' term" frequency variations-ofzzsources IDS-rand 22 which, in the case 'fof: power mains, may be appreciable. The exact 'synchronism b'etween the reproduced audio program and the projected motion-picture would bemaintained because the 'synch'ronous motor or thexiprojector is energized from the L source- 22. Should the averagexfrequency oi the source 22 be 1 higher "than: the *average I frequency of source "8,: then the motion picture would be projected with 1% higher film speed and the audio-program: would be reproduced with all frequency components thereof increased by 1%, but these conditions -wou1d not materially degrade the quality 01': the program .nor the picture.

There .is a certain advantage in choosing the frequency 'f of sources I08 and 22 to be greater thani the highest frequency required for the program, say, .15 kc. 'Ihis'advantage lies in the fact-that the, resulting wavelength or the timing signal onl'thetape'will be shorter than for a 60 C; Pz-Si timing signal. Inconsequence, a specifled"linearttime-position'error of the tape will result ina larger value of 1, which will produce a largercorrection current in solenoid 9, which latter :phenomena 'will result in a stiffer or more :accurate correction of 'flutter and wow. The disadvantage of choosing the frequency f of oscill'atorsllll and'lz to be-l5 kc. is that additional circuitry of a kind well known in the art, will be required to synchronize the synchronous 60 C. P. S. motors of the motion-picture camera and projector to the 250th sub-harmonic of the 15 kc. signal produced by oscillators 22 and I08.

In Figure l the A.-C. power source I06, which drives the capstan motor I03 of the recorder, may be the 60 cycle mains since variations, within reasonable limits, in the average and instantaneous speed of this motor, which would otherwise produce flutter or wow in the reproduced program, are eliminated or greatly reduced by the automatically controlled motion of the reproduce head of the reproducer.

In Figure 2 the latitude of motion of the reproduce-head I along its guides 8 should be sufficient to tolerate the maximum linear time-position error of the tape which is likely to occur due to time delays resulting from inertia in the rotors of motors 5 and I3. This maximum timeposition error usually will not exceed plus or minus 0.1 inch.

It is preferable that the signals of frequency 1 generated by timing oscillators I 08 and 22 be approximately sinusoidal but other wave shapes may be utilized if desired. The balanced demodulator 2| and the solenoid 9 may be replaced by any of several combinations of devices, well known to the art, which will impart to reproducehead I, a motion which is substantially proportional to the phase difference 4:, or to the timedisplacement existing between f and f of Figure 2.

In Figure 2 the combination of the spring contacts I6, I! and IS, the motor I3, the gears l4, l5, and the rheostat l2, comprises only one simple method of controlling the average speed of motor 5 and is portrayed to illustrate the principle" orvoperatio'nrv There are-semis trol systems, well known to the art but unnceeu sarily complex for illustration" therein; :whereby the. average speed :of motor 5 may .be increased or decreased :in'proportion itO the lineardisplacement of :the reproduce-head: I from its v normal centervposition."

In Figure :2 the. straight-line mechanical ages id and-Hare depicted solelyi'or illustrative purposes.:. There are many mechanical linkage systems well known. to those skilledin mechanis cal design which .wouldsserve :to impart' theimm tion of :the electroemechanicaltransducer i (illus tratedin Fig.2 by solenoid. 9) .to the reproduoe head-1 andcto the servoecontrol which.:;1s illuss trated in-Figure 2 by the contacts l6, l1, and .18; For example, it: is sometimes desirable to :impart rotary, motion instead "of linear. motiont toxthe reproduce-head "I in order: to .control therrlnstan taneous time positioniof the head] relatlve tothe tapex6.-

In Figure 2 the bandepassifilters .720 and]! mayucomprise any devices, well knowntoxthose skilled in the art, which are capable. of. effectively separating the reproduced timing signal from the reproduced program.

In certain applications it iS-dGSiIQrblQiZOQICPYOe'. duce the program at a rate. differentrrom .the rate at-which it waslre'corded. Inpracticing'my invention; this may bejxaccomplishediby acUustingithe' average frequency 1 01. :oscillator 22 to be different from that of oscillator .108.

If desired, a synchronousmotor similarltomotor [03 of Figure 1 may be mounted on the same shaft as-motor i of Figure 2 and other similar adaptations maybe made. whereby. the recording and reproducing functions maybeaccomplished by .one equipment or assemblage;

What is claimedisg.

l. A signal recording and reproducing apparatus comprising means for recording a complex electrical signal and a timing signal on a moving signal storage medium, moveable signal-reproducing means for reproducing the recorded complex electrical signal and the recorded timing signal, means for separating said reproduced signals, and means for utilizing the phase variations of the reproduced timing signal to position the said moveable signal-reproducing means including means to correct the average speed of the said moving signal-storage medium in such manner as to reduce or eliminate frequency variations in the said reproduced timing signal and to reduce or eliminate flutter and wow in the reproduced complex electrical signal.

2. A signal recording and reproducing apparatus comprising means for recording a complex electrical signal and a first timing signal on a moving signal storage medium, moveable signalreproducing means for reproducing the recorded complex electrical signal and the first said timing signal, means for separating said reproduced signals, means for generating a control signal of magnitude proportional to a function 01' the phase diiference between the reproduced first timing signal and a second timing signal, means responsive to said control signal for positioning said moveable signal-reproducing means to maintain a minimum phase-difierence between the said reproduced first timing signal and the said second timing signal, and means responsive to a positioning other than normal of the moveable signal-reproducing means for adjusting the average speed of the moving signal storage medium in such manner as to cause the moveable signalreproducing means to resume its normal position.

3. An apparatus for recording and reproducing a complex electrical signal in synchronism with the exposure and later projection of a motionpicture film comprising means for recording on a moving signal storage medium a complex electrical signal comprising a motion-picture program together with a first timing signal to which the motion of the film being exposed is synchronized, moveable signal-reproducing means for reproducing the recorded complex electrical signal and the said first timing signal, means for separating said reproduced signals, means for generating a control signal of magnitude proportional to a function of the phase difierence between the reproduced first timing signal and a second timing signal, means responsive to said control signal for positioning said moveable signal-reproducing means to maintain a minimum phase-difference between the said reproduced first timing signal and the said second timing signal, means responsive to a positioning other than normal of the moveable signal-reproducing means for adjusting the average speed of the moving signal-storage medium in such manner as to cause the moveable signal-reproducing means to resume its normal position, and means for synchronizing the motion of the film during projection with the frequency of the said second timing signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a motionpicture camera is synchronized to the first timing signal and wherein a motion-picture projector is synchronized to the second timing signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the moving signal-storage medium comprises a magnetizable tape or wire.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the moveable signal-reproducing means comprises a. lightweight magnetic reproduce-head capable of motion substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the moving signal-storage medium.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the control signal of magnitude proportional to a function of the phase-difference between the reproduced first timing signal and the second timing signal is derived from the output of a modulator having applied to its input terminals the reproduced first timing signal and the second timing signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means responsive to said control signal for positioning said moveable signal-reproducing means comprises a solenoid arranged to impart to the moveable signal-reproducing means a displacement from normal proportional to the magnitude of said control signal in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the moving signal-storage medium.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means responsive to a positioning other than normal of the moveable signal-reproducing means for adjusting the average speed of the moving signalstorage medium comprises a moveable contact spring aihxed to the said moveable signal-reproducing means which makes contact with one of two fixed contact springs whenever the said moveable signal-reproducing means is positioned in other than its normal or center position, a motor whose direction of rotation is determined by which of the two said fixed contact springs makes contact with said moveable contact spring, and gears by means of which said motor rotates in rheostat for controlling the power delivered to the capstan motor which drives the said moving signal-storage medium.

EDWARD N. DINGLEY, JR.

No references cited. 

